Sliding wall panel system



Jan. 27; T970 5, E, H B D 3,491,400

SLIDING WALL PANELSYSTEM Original Filed Aug 4, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG, I

220 I 22b 22c 2 2 23 23 F I6. 2 26 2s 24 as u 37 mf ==b j W Q INVENTOR. 53 S. EUGENE HUBBARD Jan. 27, 1970 s. E. HUBBARD SLIDING WALL PANEL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 4, 1965 I26 *F'INVEN'TOR. S. EUGENE HUBBARD III/41114 'IIIII III/[III]! WWW/ZIQKM% s. E. HUBBARD 3,491,400

SLIDING WALL PANEL SYSTEM Jan. 27,-1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 4, 1965 INVENTOR: s. EUGENE HUBBARD United States Patent 3,491,400 SLIDING WALL PANEL SYSTEM S. Eugene Hubbard, Niles, Mich., assignor to American Metal Climax, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Aug. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 477,188, now Patent No. 3,334,375, dated Aug. 8, 1967. Divided and this application July 24, 1967, Ser. No. 664,586 Int. Cl. E05d 15/26, 15/06; E06b 7/14 US. Cl. 16-96 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved track structure is provided for a sliding panel such as would be used in a storefront construction and the like. The improved track structure includes drainage means below the track elements for draining moisture from the track channels. If desired the track may be adjustably suspended from suitable track shoe supports to provide for leveling the track. The track and shoe supports would be imbedded in concrete or other floor material after suitable leveling of the track.

This application is a division of Ser. No. 477,188 filed Aug. 4, 1965 and now Patent No. 3,334,375 issued Aug. 8, 1967.

The present invention relates to a new and improved sliding wall panel system and, more particularly, to a system of components for the construction of operable wall panels such as used on store and building fronts, and to new and improved sliding wall panels and improved hardware therefor.

Such sliding building fronts, consisting usually of large glazed panels and manually-operated swinging-door entrances, are useful where it is desired to effect immediate change from open-air to enclosed operation in response to weather, seasonal, or merchandising changes.

Operable wall panels or store fronts have been in part an outgrowth of the very rapid development brought about by the dramatic introduction of the enclosed mall shopping center. They differ from sliding doors not only in size, but in that they are customarily exposed to the weathering and structural forces characteristic of stationary building fronts. Moreover another point of difference is that they must include within their own boundaries fully practical entrance doors for use during periods when for reasons of weather or season the front as a whole is closed. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a self draining track for use within a sliding wall panel and including a generally channel-shaped base member defining a drainage channel. A rail support extends across the channel and carries a rail. Flange means extend upwardly at opposite sides of the rail to define the guide grooves for receiving the guide means on the casters.

In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention means are provided for fastening the lower track to a building with suitable power tools, and thereafter for accurately leveling the rail of the track by suitable threaded members.

For a better understanding .of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a building incorporating a sliding panel assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional plan view of the building wall of FIG. 1 taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, illustrating Patented Jan. 27, 1970 the opening in the building and the storage area for the panels;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the track section of the panels of FIGS. 1 and 2, and illustrating the diverging track leading to the storage area;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of a lower caster and track geometry according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a self draining lower track according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a self draining lower track adapted for power tool installation according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5, there is illustrated the sliding wall panel and track geometry according to the present invention. As therein illustrated there is shown a building wall 20 having an opening 21 closed by a lurality of wall panels 22a, 22b, 22c, collectively hereinafter referred to as 22. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, there are provided a pair of fixed side panels 23 on respective sides of the opening 21. It is understood, of course, that any desired opening may be closed by the sliding panels according to the present invention. The panels 22 move along a track 25 alongside of the opening 21 and into a storage area 24.

Referring now to the track geometry, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the track across the opening 21 in the building 20 is a double-grooved portion 26 including a center rail 27 and a pair of spaced flanges 28 defining respective guide grooves 29, 30.

To provide for stacking of the doors in the door storage area 24, the rail 27 divides, as at 35, FIG. 3, into a pair of spaced single-groove track sections 36, 37. Each of the track sections 36, 37 includes a rail portion 38 and an outwardly spaced flange 39 providing a single groove 40 spaced outwardly from the rail portions 38.

To provide for guiding the panels 22 along the track 25 into the storage area 24, each of the panels 22 is provided with a pair of spaced lower casters 50 and 51, FIG. 4, each including a flat-faced roller 52 adapted to ride on a flat rail of the track 25, and a depending guide 53. The guides 53 of respective casters 50, 51 are received in opposite ones of the grooves 29, 30 so as to selectively guide the forward and back ends of the sliding door panel. The casters 50 and 51 are spaced apart a greater distance than the spacing between the single track sections 36 and 37, as best illustrated in FIG. 3; so as to afford stability to the panel when it is in the storage area.

From the preceding description it is evident that with the two lower casters placed on the rail of the doublegroove track with their guides in opposite ones of the grooves, each caster will be constrained to follow the groove into which its guide means are engaged, as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates the caster 51 in greater detail. As therein illustrated, the caster 51 includes an inverted fork-shaped yoke having a pair of spaced lower arms 102 extending from an upper shaft 103. The fiat-faced roller 52 rides on the rail 27 and is supported on the axle .104 extending between the arms 102. Suitable guide means, here shown as the guide pins 53, extend from the lower edge of one of the arms 102 into the groove of a typical double-groove track portion 26.

The trackage illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has been shown schematically; in accordance with the present invention, it has been found desirable in many installations to provide drainage means to the trackage since the sliding panels are normally exposed to the weather. The track system illustrated in FIG. 5 provides for an assembly of extruded members providing the functions of support, guidance, drainage, anchorage, disassembly for cleaning, and a screeding edge for concrete floors. More specifically there is illustrated in FIG. 5 a floor track assembly 120 including a generally channel-shaped g-utter or base member 121 defining a drainage channel 122 and adapted to be cast directly into a concrete floor 123. The base member 121 is advantageously provided with outwardly extending flange elements 124, .125 defining screeding edges for tying the track 120 into the concrete floor 123. Additionally the base member 121 is provided with suitable extruded spines 126 to provide for securing end caps to the base member thereby to collect drainage from the base member into a suitable sewer or gutter and to facilitate the attachment of adjoining sections of non-draining trackage.

Additionally the track assembly 120 includes a suitable track member 130 having a rail support element 13.1 on which is formed a suitable rail 132 and a pair of spaced flanges 133 defining spaced guide grooves 134. Cooperating parts are formed on the base member 121 and the track member 130 to interlock the sections. More specifically the base member 12.1 includes a locking groove 138 formed along the inner surface of one of its side walls, and a flange portion 139 adapted to interlock within the locking groove 138. Moreover a hook member 140 extends from the opposite side wall of the base member 121 and a complementary hook portion 141 extends from the side edge of the track member .130 to interlock with the hook member 140. An intermittent key strip 142 positioned between the hook portion 141 and the adjacent side wall of the base member 121 prevents accidental disengagement of the hook portion 14.1

from the hook member 140 under wind or other side loading of the panels. Moreover an intermittent resilient stuifer 142a fitted in suitable indents 143 and 144 prevent accidental removal of the key strip 142.

To provide further structural stability to the track member 130, an elongated center support or flange 145 extends under the rail 132 and against the bottom surface of the base member 121.

Frequently it is desirable to provide for power tool installation of track on an existing or new floor, with subsequent leveling of the track and grouting thereof. FIG. 6 illustrates a self draining track structure which is adapted to be power tool installed and screw leveled. As therein illustrated, there is shown a track supported on a plurality of spaced track shoe supports or runners 150 of generally channel-shaped cross-section and provided with lower flanges 151 having inwardly extending slots 151a to provide for lateral alignment in case the track should be secured with screws instead of power driven studs. Spaced upstanding side legs 152 and 153 on the shoe supports 150 terminate in inwardly extending, confronting flanges 154. Additionally there is provided a general channel-shaped base member .160 defining a drainage channel and provided with outwardly extending side flange elements 161 defined by intermittent or spaced clips and snapped to the base portion through interlocking hook members 162 and 163 and interfitting flanges 164 and 165. The outwardly extending side flange elements 161 are formed of sheet material having a reverse bend and provided with a screw aperture 166 in its lower surface through which passes an adjusting screw 167. Another opening 168 aligned with and spaced above the screw opening 166 is sufiiciently large to permit insertion of a screw driver or other tool to engage the head of the screw 167, but is sufficiently small to prevent the screw 167 from dropping through the hole 168. The screws 167 are threaded into threaded apertures 169 in the flanges 154.

To support a rail 172 there is provided a rail support element 174 of bent sheet material and including downwardly extending flanges 175 at its edges which engage within upwardly opening grooves 176 defined in the side walls of the base member 160. Moreover the rail support element 174 includes spaced downwardly extending projections 177 forming detents 178 effective to snap the rail support member 172 into engagement with the base member 160. The rail 172 may be secured to the rail support element 174 in any suitable manner as with bolts.

To define suitable guide grooves 180 and 181 on respective sides of the rail 172, the base member 160 is provided with upwardly extending flange means 182 spaced apart from the rail 170 in parallel relation therewith.

The track assembly is illustrated with a cooperating typical caster 51 including a flat-faced roller 52 and suitable guide pins 53.

From the above brief description, the installation and operation of the track assembly according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 is believed clear. However, briefly, the spaced shoe supports are attached to the base member by the spaced clips 161 with the screws 167. The base member 160 and the shoe supports 150 are installed in the floor recess as a unit, and the track is later adjusted to level.

Although various embodiments and features of the in vention have been described, it will be apparent that numerous other modifications and embodiments will be devised by those skilled in the art which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A self draining track for a sliding wall panel and the like and adapted to be cast into a floor; including a base member defining drainage means; rail support means carried by said base member; a rail carried on said support means; means defining flange means spaced apart from said rail; said drainage means being a generally channel-shaped base member for collecting moisture and directing the moisture into suitable drains; said rail support means being provided with drain opening commun icating with said drainage means; and said flange means extending upwardly spaced apart from said rail to define groove means therewith.

2. A track as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange means includes a pair of upwardly extending flanges spaced on opposite sides of said rail to define a pair of guide grooves with said rail.

3. A self draining track as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail support means is removable from said base member to provide for cleaning of said drainage means.

4. A track for a sliding wall panel including a generally channel-shaped base member having spaced upwardly extending side legs and defining a drainage channel; outwardly extending flange elements to provide for mounting said base member; a rail support element extending across said channel, said support element and said side walls having interlocking cooperating parts securing said support element in place; drain means associated with said support element communicating with said drainage channel; a rail carried on said support element; and up wardly extending flange means spaced apart from said rail to define groove means therewith.

5. A track as defined in claim 4 above wherein said cooperating parts include a groove formed on the inner surface of one of said side walls and a hook member extending from the inner surface of the other of said side walls, and additionally includes a flange portion on said rail support element positioned in said groove and a hook portion defined on said rail support element interlocked with said hook member.

6. A track as defined in claim 5 above and additionally including a key strip positioned between said hook por tion and the said other of said side walls to prevent disengagement of said hook portion from said hook member.

7. A track as set forth in claim 6 above and additionally including a resilient stutter over said key strip to prevent accidental removal of said key strip.

8. A track as set forth in claim 4 above wherein said cooperating parts include downwardly extending flanges at the side edges of said rail support element rceived in upwardly opening grooves defined along the inner surface of said side walls.

9. An adjustable track assembly for a sliding wall panel and the like and comprising a plurality of spaced, generally channel-shaped track supports each having side walls and a bottom wall and having confronting flanges extending inwardly from said side walls, a track including a track support member having outwardly extending side flange elements, a rail carried on said track support member, means carried on said track support member defining groove means with said rail, and threaded members adjustably interconnecting said outwardly extending flange elements of said track support member with said confronting flanges on respective ones of said track supports.

10. An adjustable track assembly for a sliding wall panel and the like and comprising a plurality of spaced generally channel-shaped track supports each having side walls and a bottom wall with confronting flanges extending inwardly from said side walls, a track including a generally channel-shaped base member having spaced, upwardly extending side legs and defining a drainage channel, outwardly extending flange elements extending from said sidewalls to provide for mounting said base member, a rail support element extending across said channel, said support element and said side walls having interlocking cooperating parts securing said support element in place, drain openings in said support element communicating with said drainage channel, a rail carried on said support element, upwardly extending flange means spaced apart from said rail to define groove means therewith, and threaded members adjustably interconnecting said track to respective ones of said supports to provide for leveling of said track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,936 7/1931 Kubelka 49408 XR 2,175,323 10/1939 Shepard -206 2,893,069 7/ 1959 Kessler 49452 3,152,354 10/1964 Diack 1694 3,279,123 10/ 1966 Genison 16--96 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 690,670 7/ 1964 Canada.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

